Compressor construction for filing drawers



Dec. 11, 1934. F. 1.; s STRAUBEL COMPRESSOR CONSTRUCTION FOR FILINGDRAWERS 6 Sheets-Sheet l Fild Aug. 14, 1935 Dec. 11, 1934. F. L. G.STRAUBEL COMPRESSOR CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Aug. 14, 1933s Sheets-Sheet 2 I mlllll "W W \N. N N

Dec. 11, 1934. F. e. STRAUBEL COMPRESSOR CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERSFiled Aug. 14, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 11, 1934. F. L. e. STRAUBELCOMPRESSOR CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS 6 Sheets Sheet 4 Filed Aug.14, 1933 Dec. 11, 1934. F. L. G. STRAUBEL 1,933,575

COMPRESSOR CONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Aug. 14, 1935esheets-sheet 5 Dec. II,' 1934. F. L. G. STRAUBEL COMPRESSORCONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Aug. 14, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNi'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPRESSORCONSTRUCTION FOR FILING DRAWERS Youngstown, Ohio Application August 14,1933, Serial No. 685,109

16 Claims.

This invention relates to filing drawers, and more particularly to animprovement in compressor devices therefor having the capacity to holdthe drawer contents firmly positioned against the follower.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel operating andcontrol means for the compressor which permits of greater flexibility ofthe compressor when the tilting drawer front is closed, thereby moreeffectually to compress the drawer contents, while at the same timemaintaining the tilting front in its closed position against pressure ofthe drawer contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for connectinga side wall of the drawer and the compressor and which operates inconjunction with a side wing or equivalent member carried by the tiltingfront. This means is preferably a toggle construction and may assumevarious forms, as will be apparent from the illustrations given in theaccompanying drawings, but in each instance, it effectively performs theintended function of maintaining the tilting front closed when thecompressor is in operative position, and to throw the compressor to aninoperative position against the inside face of the tilting front whenthe latter is opened to afford unobstructed access to the drawercontents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compressorconstruction which operates positively and noiselessly with the tiltingdrawer front.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangementof parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a drawer showingthe present improvements partly in elevation and in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of the springwhich constitutes compressor fiexing means.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a drawer illustrating amodified form of toggle arrangement for operating the compressor.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a drawerconstruction illustrating a further modified form of compressoroperating means.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line '7-7 of Figure6.

- Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line of 88 ofFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a drawer constructionillustrating a further modified form of compressor operating means.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure9.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of a drawer construction showingan additional modification of the compressor and the compressoroperating means.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view taken the line 12 12 of Figure11.

Figure 13 is also a vertical sectional view of a filing drawerillustrating a modified form of compressor operating means.

Figure-14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Figure13.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

In the several embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings thefiling drawer proper is provided with a tilting front designatedgenerally as A, the same being hinged at'itslower edge to the drawerbottom to permit of a tilting backward and forward movement. The sidesof the tilting front A are provided with the rearwardly extending wingsB which are tensioned by the springs designated generally as 1 andconnected at one end to a post 2 on the side of the drawer while theother end is connected 'to a post or lug 3 on the wing. The springs 1may be of the loop formation shown in Figures 1, 11 and 13, or on theother hand they may be of the bowed formation shown in Figures 4, 6 and9. The wings B are limited in their outward movement by the engagementof the abutment 4 on the wing with the abutment on the side wall of thedrawer.

The foregoing features are common to all forms of the invention and areidentified by similar reference characters. Likewise, in every instance,in all forms of the invention the compressor is designated as C. InFigure 1 the compressor is vhingedly connected as indicated at 6 to theinside of the tilting front A. In all other forms of the invention,however, the compressor C is pivotally connected to the drawer bottom asindicated at 7.

til

Although the compressor actuating mechanism and wing are shown only atone side of the drawer, similar mechanism may be placed, if desired, atthe other side of the drawer to engage the opposite end of thecompressor.

In all forms of the invention the compressor C is connected with a sidewall of the drawer by a control unit or toggle johit designatedgenerally as DE, the part D performing generally the function of a camand the part E serving as a link to connect the cam and the compressor.In the type of construction shown in Figures 1, 4, 6 and 9 the cam D ispivotally connected to a pin, abutment or other part fixed on a sidewall of the drawer as indicated at D. However, in the form ofconstruction shown in Figures 11 and 13, the cam is pivotally connectedto the wing B as indicated at D in each figure, and has an operatingengagement with abutments D (Fig. 11) or D (Fig. 13) carried by the sidewall of the drawer. In Figure 11 the abutment D is in the form of aroller whose axis is secured to the side wall of the drawer and inFigure 13 the abutment D is in the form of a rack.

In all embodiments, however, the cam D, in whatever form, has anoperative engagement with a fixed drawer part, that is, a fixed membercarried by a side wall of the drawer. Also, in all types ofconstruction, that is, in all modifications, the link E which forms apart of the toggle joint D-E connects the cam D with the compressor earF.

Another feature of construction common to Figures 1 to 10 inclusive isthe wing controlled means G. G". G and G which serve to lock the cam. ofthe toggle D.E in position when the tilting front is closed. In Figure 1the wing carried means is a roller. In Figures 4, 6 and 9 the wingcarried means is in the form of links or links and rollers which will bedescribed more in detail in connection with the specific description ofeach of the forms of construction set forth.

Referring specifically to the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,the cam D of the toggle means DE has a guiding engagement with a rib 8on a guide plate 9 welded or otherwise secured to the drawer side toassist the cam D in its movement. The said cam is also notched as at 10to receive the wing carried roller G when the tilting front is in closedposition, thereby serving to hold the tilting front closed againstpressure from within the drawer by the drawer contents due to the factthat when the wing B is in the full line position shown in Figure 1, thewing carried 1 roller G will exert an inward pull on the cam D, therebytending to draw the tilting front inwardly through the medium of thelink E and compressor C. The link E is pivotally connected to the'freeend of the cam D as indicated at 11 and is also provided with a slot 12to receive the pin 13 of the compressor ear F which operates in the slot16 of the wing. A retractile spring 14 connects the pins 11 and 13 forthe purpose of drawing the compressor leaf C inwardly toward the drawercontents. On the other hand this spring will also permit the compressorleaf to move outwardly when the tilting front is closed due to thepressure of the drawer contents; thus placing the retractile spring intension.

In other words the spring 14 permits the com pressor leaf C to yieldunder pressure when the front is closed and, at the same time, causesthe compressor to push against the drawer contents at all times to keepfiling material properly positioned in the drawer.

When the tilting front A is closed, all of the parts may assume theposition shown in Figure 1. However, if the pressure of the drawercontents is sufficiently great against the compressor leaf, the spring14 may be expanded. Also, the tilting front is locked in its closedposition due to the engagement of the wing carried means G with the camD of the toggle. When it is desired to open the drawer, the tiltingfront is pulled outwardly. As the wing B moves with the tilting front,it will carry with it the roller G which is caused to move out of thenotch 10 in the cam D, thereby releasing the compressor C and permittingit to follow the outward movement of the tilting front under its ownweight after the lug 3 on the wing has kicked the cam D which isconnected to compressor C to throw the cam forwardly a sufficientdistance to also move the compressor forwardly of a perpendicular lineintersecting its axis.

Another means for yieldingly or flexibly mounting the compressor leaf isshown in Fig. 3. In this form of construction the spring 14 may bedispensed with and instead the compressor ear F may be formed at the endof a spring strip 15 carried by the rear face of the compressor leaf. Aswill be observed from Figures 3, 4, 6 and 8, the said spring strip islongitudinally bowed so its central portion rests against the inner faceof the compressor leaf C while the outer end thereof adjacent the ear Frests against the edge 17 of an abutment member 18 carried by the rearof the compressor plate. When the tilting front A is closed, and thecompressor is in the full line csition shown in Figure 4, the saidcompressor may move or yield forwardly or outwardly under the influenceof the pressure of the drawer contents without forcing the tilting frontopen, due to the fact that the compressor plate may flex or yield adistance corresponding to the spacing of the ends 15 of the strip fromthe rear face of the compressor plate C.

Referring further to Figure 4 and also to Figure 5, it will be observedthat the toggle D-E which constitutes the operating means for thecompressor C is connected as at D to a side wall of the drawer and tothe compressor ear F. The only essential change in the constructionshown in Figures 4 and 5 from that shown in Figures 1-3 is that the wingcontrolled means G consists of a roller 19 adapted to engage in thenotch 20 of the cam D, the said roller being carried by an arm 21pivoted as at 22 to a side wall of the drawer. The said arm 21 isprovided with a laterally offset pin or stud 23 adapted to move in theslot 24 of a link 25 pivotally carried as at 26 by the side wing B ofthe tilting front. When the tilting front is closed, the arm 21 and thelink 25 will assume the position shown in full lines in Figure 4, andthe roller 19 will be engaged in the notch 20 of the cam D. On the otherhand, when the tilting front is opened the link 25 will move with thewings B for the distance that the offset stud 23 rides in the slot 24while the compressor C remains in its full line position. When the stud23 reaches the end of the slot 24, the link 25 will pull the arm 21forwardly and release the roller 19 from the notch 20. The compressor Ccan then move forwardly toward the front A under pressure of the drawercontents, and when it is moved forwardly of a line perpendicular to itsaxis, it will fall by gravity against the inside face of the tiltingfront. When the tilting front is closed, the compressor will, of course,move with it but there will be an idle movement between the link and arm21 until the stud 23 reaches the outer end of the slot. When the tiltedfront is closed as shown in Figure 4, it will be apparent that thetoggle means DE is held firmly in the full line position shown, and itwill of course be understood that the compressor C may yield underpressure of the drawer contents to the extent permitted by theflexibility of the spring 15 which carries the ear F that connects withthe link E.

Figures 6 and '7 again retain the essential features of the inventionpreviously outlined. but change the character of the wing controlledmeans designated generally as G In this instance the means G consists ofa second toggle comprising the links 2'7 and 28, the former beingpivotally connected as at 27a with the cam D and pivotally joined by thestud 29 to the link 28, the latter in turn being pivotally connected atits lower end by the pivot 30 with a side wall'of' the drawer. For thepurpose of manipulating the toggle 2728, there is provided a link 31pivotally connected as indicated at 32 to the wing B of the tiltingfront. The link 31 is slotted as shown at 33 to receive the stud 29which connects links 27 and 28. When the tilting front A is closed, thelink 31 maintains the toggle in the full line position shown in Figure6. On the other hand, when the tilting front is opened, the movement ofthe wing B with the tilting front will break the toggle joint 27-28, asshown, by dotted lines, and pull the cam D also to the dotted lineposition, the cam D in turn forcing the compressor C to move with thetilting front through the medium of the link E which connects the camwith the resilient ear F of the compressor.

The construction shown in Figures 9 and 10 is similar to that shown inFigures 6 and '7, except that the wing controlled means, designatedgenerally as G3 merely comprises a link 34 pivotally connected as at35to the wing B and provided at its end opposite the pivot 35 with aslot 35 for receiving a stud 37 on the cam D. When the parts are inclosed position as shown in the full line position of Figure 9, the link34 will press inwardly on the main toggle device DE. On the other hand,when the tilting front is pulled open, the link 34 will move with thewing B carried by the front, and when the stud 3''] reaches the end ofthe slot 36, the toggle DE will be moved and thus move the compressor C,as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9. The arrangement shown inFigure 9 is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 6, exceptthat the second toggle device 2728 of the latter figure is omitted andthe pressure of the drawer contents against the compressor does notretain the tilting front in closed position.

Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings illustrate a a construction whereinall of the essential characteristics of the invention are maintained.The toggle means DE is carried by the wing B so as to move therewith,but, nevertheless, it maintains the feature in common with otherconstructions shown in the drawings, that the cam D has an operativeengagement with a fixed drawer carried part D preferably in the form ofa roller. Referring specifically to the characteristics of the cam D andlink E, which make up the toggle DE, it will be observed that the cam Dcomprises a body having an opening or slot providing the spaced arms 40and 41 adapted for alternate engagement with the fixed drawer carriedpart D The body of the cam D is provided with a tail portion 42 carryinga pivot stud 43 adapted to ride in the slot 44 of the angularly disposedarm of the link E which connects the cam D with the ear F of thecompressor C. The link E is provided with a hook 45 for receiving aspring 46 which is hung on a pin 47 carried by the arm 41 of the cam.The purpose of this spring is to place the compressor plate C undertension whereby it may yield under pressure of the drawer contents. Thatis to say, the link E will slide with respect to pivot stud 43 whenpressure is placed on the compressor due to spring 45. If the pressureis sufiiciently great, the compressor may pull the link as far as thelimit of the slot 44 in the link will permit, due to the fact thatsufficient movement of the compressor plate will move the link to unseatit from the end of the slot in which it rests as shown by the full lineposition in Figure 11. When the tilting front is moved to open position,the toggle DE will move with the wing until the arm 41 strikes thedrawer carried projection D whereupon the cam will be shifted with asnap movement to throw the compressor back toward the outwardly tiltedfront A. When the tilting front is closed the arm 40 by engagingprojection D will cause the cam D to move about its pivot D and when thetilted front is advanced to its fully closed position, the seat or notch40a at the upper inner edge of the arm 40 will engage beneath the rollerD thereby to force the toggle DE in position to hold the compressoryieldingly against the contents of the drawer.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a construction wherein the tilting front Acarrying the wing B having the slot 16, carries therewith the cam D Inthis instance the cam D as indicated at D is in the form of a diskprovided over a portion of its periphery with teeth 50 adapted to engagewith the teeth 51 of the rack D carried by one of the side walls of thedrawer. In this modification, as in the others, the unit DE is completedby the angular link E, the same being pro vided at one end with a slot52 engaging with a stud 53 carried by the cam D. The end of the link Eopposite the stud 53 is pivotally connected as at 54 with the ear F ofthe compressor C, and is also provided with a hook 55 adapted to engagewith a stop pin abutment 56 mounted on the side wall of the drawer. Thepurpose of the hook 55 and pin 56 is to hold the link E in the full lineposition shown in Figure 13 when the tilting front A is closed so thatthe pressure of the drawer contents against the compressor C will nottend to force the tilting front open. When the tilting fron A ismanually opened it will be apparent that the teeth 50 of the cam D willengage with i the teeth 51 of the rack D which will, in turn, impartmovement through the link E to the compressor C. The preliminarymovement of the cam D over the rack 51 will rock the link Esufficiently, because of the connections described, to release the hook55 from the pin 56.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in all forms of theinvention the tilting front A provided with a wing or wings 13 havingthe slot 16, is adapted to control the compressor C through the mediumof suitable toggle means DE which is operatively connected with thecompressor through connections exposed by the slot 16 of the wing.

While the various embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed somewhat in detail it will, of course, be understood thatchanges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may beresorted to without all) departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the latter andhaving an arcuate slot, a pivoted compressor, and compressor actuatingmeans arranged between the wing and the side wall of the drawer adjacentthereto, said means operatively engaging with a fixed part on the sidewall of the drawer and also engaging with the compressor through saidarcuate slot.

2. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the latter andhaving an opening, a pivoted compressor, and a compressor actuatingtoggle arranged between the wing and the side wall of the draweradjacent thereto, one member of said toggle having an operativeengagement with the side wall of the drawer and the other member of thetoggle having an operative engagement with the compressor through saidopening.

3. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a compressor pivotally mountedadjacent the lower edge thereof, wings on the tilting front, means fortensioning the wings, and toggle means for controlling the operation ofthe compressor, said toggle means including a part carried by the drawerside wall and a pair of members pivotally connected at their inner endsand having their outer ends respectively engaging with the said partcarried by the drawer side wall and with the compressor.

4. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a compressor pivotally mountedadjacent the lower edge thereof, wings on the tilting front, said wingseach provided with an opening, means for tensioning the wings, andtoggle means for controlling the operation of the compressor, saidtoggle means including a part carried by the drawer side wall and a pairof members pivotally connected at their inner ends and located between awing and a drawer side wall, one of said members engaging with the saidpart carried by the drawer side wall, and the other of said membersconnected .through a wing slot with the compressor.

5. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the latter andhaving an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a part exposedthrough said opening in the wing, a fixed member carried by a side wallof the drawer, and toggle means engaging respectively with the saidfixed member carried by the side wall of the drawer and with the part ofthe compressor exposed through the opening in the wing for actuating thecompressor upon movement of the tilting front.

-6. In a filing drawer a tilting front, a wing carried by the latter andhaving an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a portion exposedthrough said opening in the wins, a fixed member carried by a side wallof the drawer, toggle means respectively engaging with said fixed membercarried by the drawer side wall and the part of the compressor exposedthrough the opening in the wing, and wing controlled means operativelyengaging one of the members of the toggle.

'7. In a drawer contents compressor device, a tilting front, a wingcarried by the latter and having an opening, a pivoted compressor memberhaving a portion exposed through said opening in the wing, a fixedmember carried by a side wall of the drawer, toggle means respectivelyengaging with said fixed member carried by the drawer and the part ofthe compressor exposed through the opening in the wing, and meanscarried by the wing to hold the toggle against movement when the tiltingfront is closed due to pres sure of the drawer contents against thecompressor.

8. In a drawer contents compressor device, a tilting front, a wingcarried by said tilting front and having an opening, a pivotedcompressor member, a yielding ear carried by the compressor member andexposed at said opening in the wing, a fixed member carried by a drawerside wall, toggle means comprising pivotally connected members, one ofwhich is connected to said fixed member on a drawer side wall and theother of which is connected to said resilient ear on the compressor, andmeans carried by the wing and operatively connected to the medialportion of said member of the toggle which is connected to the fixedmember carried by a side wall of the drawer.

9. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the latter andhaving an opening, a pivoted compressor member, a yieldingly mounted earcarried by the compressor and exposed at said opening in the wing, afixed member carried by the drawer side wall, toggle means including apivotally connected cam and link arranged between the wing and the sidewall of the drawer, said cam being pivotally connected with the fixedmember on the drawer side wall and said link being pivotally connectedwith the yielding ear on the compressor.

10. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by said tiltingfront and having an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a partexposed at said opening in the wing, a fixed member carried by a sidewall of the drawer, a pivotally connected cam and link, said camengaging with said fixed part on the drawer side wall, and said linkengaging with the part of the compressor exposed at said opening in thewing, and means carried by the wing and'adapted to engage with themedial portion of the cam when the toggle is in its closed position toassist in holding the tilting front closed against pressure exerted bythe drawer contents on the compressor member.

11. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the tiltingfront and having an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a partexposed at said opening, a fixed member carried by a side wall of thedrawer, toggle means arranged between said wing and the adjacent sidewall of the drawer, said toggle means comprising a cam and a linkpivotally connected and said cam being pivotally connected with thefixed member on the side wall of the drawer and the link being connectedwith the part of the compressor exposed at said opening, and meanscarried by and movable with said wing for engagement with the cam of thetoggle when the tilting front is closed to press the said cam of thetoggle inwardly of the drawer.

12. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the tiltingfront and having an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a partexposed at said opening, a fixed member carried by a side wall of thedrawer, toggle means arranged between said wing and the adjacent sidewall of the drawer, said toggle means comprising a cam and a linkpivotally connected and said cam being pivotally connected with thefixed member on the side wall of the drawer and the link being connectedwith the part of the compressor exposed at said opening, and a linkcarried by the wing and operatively connected with the medial portion ofthe cam to press the latter inwardly of the drawer when the tiltingfront is closed.

13. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the tiltingfront and having an opening, a pivoted compressor member having a partexposed at said opening, a fixed member carried by a side wall of thedrawer, toggle means arranged between said wing and the adjacent sidewall of the drawer, said toggle means comprising a cam and a linkpivotally connected and said cam being pivotally connected with thefixed member on the side wall of the drawer and the link being connectedwith the part of the compressor exposed at said opening, a pair ofmembers connected by a pivot and respectively connected at the endsopposite the pivot with the medial portion of the cam and with the sidewall of the drawer, and a link pivotally carried by the wing andprovided with a slot for receiving the pivot connecting said members.

1%. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing having an openingcarried by the latter, a pivoted compressor member having a portionexposed at the opening in the wing, a fixed member carried by the sidewall of the drawer, toggle means located between the wing and the sidewall of the drawer and comprising a cam pivotally mounted on said fixedmember and operatively connected with a link joined with the compressorat the part exposed through the opening, said cam of the toggle beingprovided with a notch, and a member controlled by the wing and adaptedfor engagement with said notch of the cam when the tilting front is inits closed position.

15. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing having an openingcarried by the latter, a pivoted compressor member having a portionexposed at the opening in the wing, a fixed member carried by the sidewall of the drawer, toggle means located between the wing and the sidewall of the drawer and comprising a cam pivotally mounted on said fixedmember and operatively connected with a. link joined with the compressorat the part exposed through the opening, said cam of the toggle beingprovided with a notch, and a member carried by the wing and adapted forengagement with said notch of the cam when the tilting front is in itsclosed position.

16. In a filing drawer, a tilting front, a wing carried by the latterand having an opening, a pivoted compressor having a part exposed at theopening, a fixed member carried by the side wall of the drawer adjacentthe wing, and toggle means for operating the compressor, said togglemeans comprising a cam carried by the wing and operatively engaged withsaid fixed part of the drawer, and a link pivotally connected with thecam and also pivotally connected with the part of the compressor exposedthrough said opening in the wing.

FREDERICK L. G. STRAUBEL.

